iPhone 14 Pro Prototype Surfaces: Unveiling Apple's Abandoned Haptic Button Project

iPhone 14 Pro Prototype Surfaces: Unveiling Apple's Abandoned Haptic Button ProjectIn July 2024, AppleInsider published images of an iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype equipped with Apple's rumored haptic buttons, codenamed Project Bongo. This project was initially slated for a 2023 debut but ultimately never made it to production

iPhone 14 Pro Prototype Surfaces: Unveiling Apple's Abandoned Haptic Button Project

In July 2024, AppleInsider published images of an iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype equipped with Apple's rumored haptic buttons, codenamed Project Bongo. This project was initially slated for a 2023 debut but ultimately never made it to production. Now, a new prototype with the same button design has surfaced onlinethis time, an iPhone 14 Pro. This newfound prototype offers a glimpse into the initial, unique iteration of Apple's haptic button project.

Project Bongo: Apple's Attempt at Haptic Buttons

Project Bongo aimed to introduce haptic volume and power buttons for the iPhone 15 Pro. As early as 2021, two years before the projected launch of the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple began developing haptic button components. The most notable change in Project Bongo was the consolidation of the volume buttons on the left side of the iPhone into a unified button. The Bongo module utilized unique hardware, such as an electromagnetically driven magnetoresistive motor known as the Bongo haptic engine, to provide tactile feedback.

iPhone 14 Pro Prototype: Codename Ranger

The newly revealed iPhone 14 Pro prototype bears the codename "Ranger," inscribed below the unified volume button on the device's side. Most iPhone prototypes have crucial details about the device engraved in this location. During development, the iPhone 14 Pro was known as Ranger, the iPhone 15 Pro was called Vantage, and the iPhone 16 Pro was referred to as Diablo. Apple's recent iPhone codenames have referenced high-performance cars like the Lamborghini Diablo and Aston Martin V12 Vantage.

Drop Test Prototype: Unique Markings and Placeholder Parts

The surfaced iPhone 14 Pro prototype is marked with "DROP" on its side, signifying that it was a prototype used for drop testing. Devices labeled Drop1 and Drop2 typically employ placeholder components, and the iPhone 14 Pro is no exception. This prototype also features what is known as the Vessica Piscis logo, which is also present on drop test prototypes for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro. Drop test prototypes often lack a functional rear camera assembly, replaced by a machined metal component. The display connector and various other components are also absent, as the device is not meant to have fully functional hardware. Instead, such devices are dropped from predetermined heights to test the durability of core structural components. The testing process is captured in slow motion, and digital SLR cameras are used to analyze the resulting cosmetic damage in detail.

Unique Design of Early Prototype

This iPhone 14 Pro prototype possesses all the characteristics of a genuine Apple prototype, even the most minute details. It differs from the iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype previewed by AppleInsider in July 2024 in a few ways. This EVT-stage prototype featured a unified volume button with a notch in the middle to help users distinguish between volume up and down. In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro prototype utilizes a button with a flat surface. The rough appearance of the iPhone 14 Pro button is also attributed to its use as a drop test device. This device also lacks an action button, replaced by a traditional mute switch.

Prototypes: A Glimpse into Apple's Design Philosophy

Prototypes like this give us an inside look at the ingenuity of Apple's engineers and design teams. Their appearance may also be vastly different from final production models, such as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, which ultimately did not adopt the unified volume button. Prior reports have revealed early iPhone 15 prototypes that were scrapped of many features, including capacitive action buttons and a distinct back panel for the standard iPhone 16. Another prototype unveiled an experimental user interface for Apple's mail sorting feature, powered by Apple Intelligence. This prototype was made approximately five years before Apple announced the feature at WWDC in 2024.

Conclusion

The iPhone 14 Pro prototype offers a rare opportunity to gain insight into how Apple experiments with new technologies and design concepts, ultimately deciding whether to implement them in their final products. While Project Bongo ultimately failed, it exemplifies Apple's unwavering dedication to innovation and the exploration of new technologies. These prototypes remind us that even the most renowned tech companies experiment and explore to eventually create the best products possible.